Beverage display



.Jan. 20, 1 970 J. E. WINTHER BEVERAGE DISPLAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15 1967 Jan. 20, 1970 J. E. WINTHER BEVERAGE DISPLAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1967 United States Patent 3,490,161 BEVERAGE DISPLAY John Eric Winther, 87 E. 8th St., Clifton, NJ. 07011 Filed Nov. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 682,393 Int. Cl. G09f 19/10 U.S. Cl. 40-10653 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Advertising displays simulating beverage with rising bubbles employing endless vertical strand carrying bubble indicia, with upward moving portions positioned within the visible volume of the display. Shown also are devices for imparting horizontal vibration to the upward moving portions of filaments, special spacing and speed relationships of indicia, and other interest attracting features.

This invention relates to an advertising or display device and more particularly to such a device in which it is desired to simulate a beverage with bubbles rising through the volume of the beverage.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a display which realistically simulates a bubbling beverage in an inexpensive, maintenance-free construction.

Other objects are to provide such displays which contain no actual fluid; which are readily adaptable to a wide range in size; which can withstand extreme temperatures and rough handling in shipping; and in which the complexity of design is so reduced and the working parts are so disposed that materials with a high degree of transparency can be employed in the manufacture of the display without jeopardizing the realism of the display.

The invention features a beverage display comprising a transparent wall enclosing a vertically arranged visible volume to simulate a quantity of beverage. A hidden electric light is employed for illuminating the volume and there are means for simulating bubbles in the beverage, in the form of a vertically arranged endless strand carrying spaced apart bubble indicia, one leg of the strand extending through the visible volume, guides both above and below the volume positioning the second leg of the strand out of the visible volume, and a rotary drive motor engaged with the strand outside of the visible volume, for moving the first leg upwardly at a speed substantially corresponding to the speed of rising bubbles in a beverage.

Preferred embodiments of the invention feature bubble indicia spaced apart unevenly, in one extended region a series being close together, in another extended region there being none of the indicia; means to cause the strand leg in the visible volume to vibrate in the horizontal direction as it moves upwardly and accomplishing this simply by a drive pulley engaged with the strand with the axis of the pulley out of parallel to the horizontal; the second leg extending downwardly through a path shielded from view by a mirror while the mirror creates at least one image of the first leg in the visible volume; a seethrough display with the transparent wall in the general form of a cylinder while an opaque lateral wall is secured to at least one side of the cylinder with the second leg of the endless strand closed by the lateral wall; a mug defined by the transparent wall, with an opaque handle through which the second leg of the strand extends downwardly; a second visible volume with an associated endless strand, the strand driven by the same motor as drives the first strand; bubble indicia which are bead-like, with guide means which present a nonconforming surface so that movement of the strand over the surface produces vibra tion in the upwardly moving leg; and a transparent wall of substantially cylindrical form, upper and lower guide pulleys mounted on substantially horizontal axes, the vertical 3,490,161 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 tangent to the inner arcs of the pulleys located within the wall, the vertical tangent to the outer arcs of the pulleys located outside of the wall, the first and second legs of the strand following the first and second tangent lines respectively, and a reflector disposed along the inside surface of the wall between the two strand legs.

The invention also features an endless strand defining in effect a plurality of strands carrying spaced apart bubble indicia. Each strand has its first leg extending through the visible volume, guides positioning the second legs out of the visible volume, with the rotary drive motor located outside.

Preferred embodiments also feature a plurality of separate strands, one of the strands carrying bubble indicia all of one size and a second strand carryingbubble indicia of another size, and a speed transmission associated with the motor causing the first mentioned strand to travel slower than the second strand; the foregoing in which the transmission comprises a single shaft driven by the motor, and a pulley arrangement on the shaft engaged with the strands, the pulley engaged with the first strand having a smaller diameter than the pulley engaged with the second strand; a plurality of pulleys positioned above and a second plurality of pulleys positioned below the visible volume, the pulleys positioned to locate the first legs of the strands in a pattern in the volume while locating the second legs in positions whereby all strands can be driven by the same motor; and upper and lower guides for an upwardly traveling leg of a first strand which are spaced outwardly from an opaque masking wall at a greater distance than the upper and lower guides for an upwardly traveling leg of a second strand, and further guides arranged to position the downward traveling legs of all said strands behind an opaque masking wall.

Other objects, features, and advantages will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken together with the attached drawings thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one preferred embodiment;

FIG. la is a diagrammatic view illustrating one means of imparting horizontal vibration to the strand of FIG. 1;

FIGS. lb and 1c are diagrammatic views illustrating two positions of another means for imparting horizontal vibration to the strand of FIG. 1;

FIG. ld is a horizontal view taken along line 1d in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are vertical and horizontal cross-sections of another preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in section of another embodiment, in which the strand returns through the handle;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a preferred embodiment which comprises a see-through display;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views each illustrating another preferred embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a display device, generally indicated by the numeral 20, in the form of a beverage glass or mug. The top and bottom portions 22 and 24 of the glass (with lower and upper boundaries 22a and 24a respectively) are preferably opaque so as to mask the working parts of the device, top portion being of a white substance to stimulate foam. Transparent wall 26 extends between the top and bottom portions. The volume which can be seen through this wall is referred to hereafter as the visible volume. The wall material may be of such color as to give the appearance of a non-colored glass filled with a beverage An endless strand 28, with bubble indicia 30 affixed thereto, is suspended in a vertical attitude between driven pulley 32 and idler pulley 34. Idler pulley 34 extends above lower boundary 22a and driven pulley 32 extends below upper boundary 24a so that each is masked by an opaque portion. Also masked by opaque portion 24 is light source 36. Driven pulley 32 and idler pulley 34 are positioned so that a vertical tangent to the inner arcs of the pulleys extends through the visible volume, and thus one vertical leg 38 of strand 28, taking the path of that tangent is within the visible volume. Similarly, a vertical tangent to the outer arcs of the pulleys extends outside the visible volume and thus the other vertical leg 40, taking the path of that tangent is outside of this volume. The rearward extent of the visible volume is defined by a multifaceted mirror 44 supported by wall 26. This mirror is disposed between inside vertical leg 38 and the rear inside surface 42 of the glass or mug. In this embodiment the outer arcs of the idler pulley 34 and the driven pulley 32 extend outside the glass or mug, thereby locating the leg 40 of the strand outside the mug. These portions are covered by a shield 46.

The endless strand 28 is driven by pulley 32 in such a manner that the bubble indicia 30 aflixed to the inside vertical leg 38 of endless strand 28 rise within the glass or mug at approximately the speed with which bubbles in an actual beverage rise to the surface, e.g. 10 to 15 feet per minute, depending upon the size of the bubbles.

The effect of the multi-faceted mirror 44 is to create the impression of numerous spaced bubble streams rising through the visible volume, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The realism of the display is heightened further by disposing bubble indicia 30 at random locations on endless strand 28, rather than in a regular fashion. Advantageously a substantial length, 1, of the strand is provided without indicia to create the impression that bubbling has momentarily stopped. In addition, by mounting the pulley 32 such that its own axis is at angle A, e.g., to from the horizontal axis of rotation as shown in FIG. 1a, a horizontal, intercstattracting wobble or vibration to the rising strand leg can be obtained. With this attitude of the pulley 32 it is found desirable to use a pulley with a V-shaped cross-section at its circumference so that the endless strand 28 will not ride off of the pulley. The pulley is also preferably made of a soft material to enhance traction.

It has been discovered that a realistic simulation can be attained with various types of bubble indicia 30. The preferred types are: glass or plastic spheres; glass or plastic'beads of irregular shapes; and flat metal or plastic disks.

With beads having central holes and strung on the strand lie a ncklace, and similar indicia, the effect of the varying contact with a smooth or nonconforming pulley between the beads and the strand lying between the beads is to impart a horizontal vibration to the rising strand leg, which also can be an interest-attracting motion. In FIGS. lb and 1c the difference in dimension d and d illustrates the horizontal motion efiect achieved as the strand and beads move over the pulley surface.

In an alternative mode of construction bubble indicia 30 and endless strand 28 may be molded as a single unit, and could take the form of a wide endless band of clear plastic film.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a display device in which a single motor 74 drives a plurality of endless strands having upwardly moving legs 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, and 38). Masked by opaque top portion 22 are axle shafts 50 and idler pulleys 34a, 34b, 34c, spaced varying distances d, d, d from an opaque reflective member 52. Member 52 masks the downward path 56 of the endless strands guided by member 54, over which all strands are strung. Guide member 54 may be either a shaft with a plurality of V-grooves, each groove being generally circumferential about the shaft, or a shaft with a plurality of pulleys mounted thereon. The strands are driven preferably by a single motor 74, but the driven pulleys 32 may be of various diameters in order to drive different strands at different speeds. The bubble indicia afiixed to the strands may be all of one size on any one strand and may vary in size on different strands. Such variation in size of bubble indicia and in speed of indicia creates a further element of non-uniformity in the bubble simulation and enhances realism. Thus for beer bubbles, the loops having the smaller indicia are driven at a slower speed than the larger indicia.

FIG. 5 illustrates a display which provides a dilferent configuration for endless strand 28 in which the strand passes through the opaque handle of a mug. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of idlers 34 to define the turning points of the strand path. Alternatively, the strand 28 may be permitted to slide over the inside surface 72 of the handle 70, which may be facilitated by the use of an antifriction coating such as one of the fiuoro carbon plastics.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a see-through type of display device in which a single motor 74 drives a plurality of endless strands 28. The downward leg of each strand is masked by opaque member 76 which also serves to support the glass-shaped see-through walls 78 and defines a decorative part of the overall display, in this instance taking a diamond form.

FIG. 8 illustrates a multiple display configuration employing a single endless strand 28 and motor 74. In this illustration glasses or mugs 78, similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1, are disposed at opposite ends of an opaque, closed decorative member 77, in the form of a beer barrel. The idler pulleys 34 and motor 74 are so disposed within the member 77 that the section of the endless strand 28 within the visible volume of each glass or mug moves upward substantially as described above relating to FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 illustrates a display device which simulates a bubbling beverage when viewed from either of two directions. Two separate visible volumes are each provided with a bubble indicia carrying endless strand 28 so disposed that its upward moving vertical leg is within the visible volume and the downward moving vertical leg is not within the visible volume. The two visible volumes in this display are of generally oval cross-section and are indicated generally by A and A. The perimeter of each such cross-section is formed by multi-faceted mirror 44 and an are which is a segment of the circumference of the glass or mug. These arcs are designated WX and YZ in FIG. 9. Opaque mounting member 79 masks the remaining volume within the glass or mug. It is within this remaining volume, indicated generally by B, that the downward moving vertical legs of the endless strands 28 are located. The operation of this display device is substantially similar to that of FIG. 1.

Numerous other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage display comprising a transparent wall enclosing a vertically arranged visible volume to simulate a quantity of beverage, and means for simulating bubbles in the beverage, the means comprising at least one vertically arranged endless strand carrying spaced apart bubble indicia formed of solid material, one leg of the strand extending through said visible volume, guides both above and below said volume positioning the second leg of the strand outside of said visible volume,'and a rotary drive motor engaged with said strand outside of said visible volume adapted to move said first leg upwardly at a speed substantially corresponding to the speed of rising bubbles in a beverage.

2. The beverage display of claim 1 wherein said bubble indicia are spaced apart unevenly, in one extended region a series of said indicia being close together, in another extended region there being none of said indicia.

3. The beverage display of claim 1 including means to cause vibration, in the horizontal direction, of said first leg as it moves upwardly.

4. The beverage display of claim 3 in which said means comprise a drive pulley engaged with said endless strand with the axis of said pulley out of parallel to the axis of rotation.

5. The beverage display of claim 1 in which said second leg extends downwardly through a path shielded from view by a mirror which creates at least one image of said first leg in said visible volume.

6. The beverage display of claim 1 in which said display is a see-through display, said wall being of generally cylindrical form, an opaque decorative lateral wall secured to at least one side of said cylinder, said second leg enclosed by said decorative lateral wall.

7. The beverage display of claim 1 in which said wall defines a mug, said mug having an opaque handle, said second leg extending downwardly through said handle.

8. The beverage display of claim 1 combined with a second wall defining a second visible volume, said motor simultaneously driving a vertically arranged endless strand for said second volume similar to that of the first mentioned volume.

9. The beverage display of claim 1 wherein said indicia are bead-like, and said guide means presents a non-conforming surface, whereby movement of said strand over said surface produces vibration in said upwardly moving leg.

10. The beverage display of claim 1 wherein said wall is of substantially cylindrical form, the guides comprising upper and lower guide pulleys mounted on substantially horizontal axes, the vertical tangent to the inner arcs of said pulleys located within said wall, the vertical tangent to the outer arcs of said pulleys located outside of said wall, the first and second legs of the endless strand following the first and second mentioned tangent lines respectively and a reflector disposed along the inside surface of said wall between said two strand legs.

11. A beverage display comprising a transparent wall enclosing a vertically arranged visible volume to simulate a quantity of beverage and means for simulating bubbles in the beverage, the means comprising vertically arranged endless strand means carrying spaced apart bubble indicia formed of solid material, defining in efiect a plurality of strands, each strand comprising first and second vertical legs, the first leg of each of said strands extending through said visible volume, guides both above and below said volume positioning the second legs of each of said strands out of said visible volume, and a rotary drive motor engaged to drive said strands outside of said visible volume, adapted to move said first legs upwardly at speeds substantially corresponding to the speeds of rising bubbles in a beverage.

12. The beverage display of claim 11 in which said endless strand means comprise a multiplicity of separate endless strands, a first of said strands carrying bubble indicia all of one size and a second of said strands carrying bubble indicia all of another size, and a speed transmission associated with said motor causing said first strand to travel slower than said second strand.

13. The beverage display of claim 12 in which said transmission comprises a single shaft driven by said motor and pulley means on said shaft, engaged with said strands, the part of the said pulley means engaged with said first strand having a smaller diameter than the part engaged with said second strand.

14. The beverage display of claim 11 wherein there are a plurality of pulleys positioned above and a second plurality of pulleys positioned below said volume, said pulleys positioned to locate said first legs in a predeter mined spaced apart pattern in said visible volume, and to locate said second legs in positions whereby all strands can be driven by the same motor.

15. The beverage display of claim 11 wherein the upper and lower guides for an upwardly traveling leg of a first strand are spaced outwardly from an opaque masking wall at a greater distance than the upper and lower guides for an upwardly traveling leg of a second strand, and further guide means arranged to position the downward traveling legs of all said strands behind said opaque masking wall.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,570 8/1933 Johnson 40106.53 2,731,747 1-/1956 Hazelroth et al. 3,286,384 11/1966 Furchtbar 40-10652 FOREIGN PATENTS 224,637 11/ 1924 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner 

